Compare towns
Reading vs Berlin vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Reading | Berlin | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
3,378Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Berlin-Boylston | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.